WHEN Jesus revealed to His disciples the
fate of Jerusalem and the scenes of the second advent, He foretold also the experience of
His people from the time when He should be taken from them to His return in power and
glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the Saviour beheld the storms about to fall upon
the apostolic church, and, penetrating deeper into the future, His eye discerned the
fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat upon His followers in the coming ages of
darkness and persecution. In a few brief utterances, of awful significance, He foretold
the portion which the rulers of this world would mete out to the church of God. The
followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach, and suffering which
their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the world's Redeemer would be
manifested against all who should believe on His name.

The history of the early
church testified to the fulfillment of the Saviour's words. The powers of earth and hell
arrayed themselves against Christ in the person of His followers. Paganism foresaw that
should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she
summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution were kindled.
Christians were stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes. They
"endured a great fight of

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afflictions." They "had trial of cruel mockings
and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." Heb. 11:36. Great numbers
sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned and
ignorant, were alike slain without mercy.

In vain were Satan's efforts
to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples
of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at
their post. By defeat they conquered. God's workmen were slain, but His work went steadily
forward. The gospel continued to spread, and the number of its adherents to increase. It
penetrated into regions that were inaccessible, even to the eagles of Rome. Said a
Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution:
You may "kill us, torture us, condemn us. . . . Your injustice is the proof that we
are innocent. . . . Nor does your cruelty . . . avail you." It was but a stronger
invitation to bring others to their persuasion. "The oftener we are mown down by you,
the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed."

Thousands were imprisoned and
slain; but others sprang up to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their
faith were secured to Christ, and accounted of Him as conquerors. They had fought the good
fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory when Christ should come. The sufferings
which they endured brought Christians nearer to one another and to their Redeemer. Their
living example and dying testimony were a constant witness for the truth; and, where least
expected, the subjects of Satan were leaving his service and enlisting under the banner of
Christ.

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The
Compromise With Paganism

Satan therefore laid his
plans to war more successfully against the government of God, by planting his banner in
the Christian church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived and led to displease
God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, and they would fall an easy
prey.

The great adversary now
endeavored to gain by artifice what he had failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased,
and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and
worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while they
rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God and to
believe in His death and resurrection; but they had no conviction of sin and felt no need
of repentance or of a change of heart. With some concessions on their part, they proposed
that Christians should make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in
Christ.

Now was the church in fearful
peril. Prison, torture, fire, and sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of
the Christians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise. Others reasoned
that if they should yield or modify some features of their faith, and unite with those who
had accepted a part of Christianity, it might be the means of their full conversion. That
was a time of deep anguish to the faithful followers of Christ. Under a cloak of pretended
Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into the church, to corrupt their faith and
turn their minds from the word of truth.

At last the larger portion of
the Christian company lowered their standard, and a union was formed between Christianity
and paganism. Although the worshipers

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of idols professed to be converted, and united with
the church, they still clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their worship
to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints. The foul leaven of idolatry, thus
introduced into the church, continued its baleful work. Unsound doctrines, superstitious
rites, and idolatrous ceremonies were incorporated into her faith and worship. As the
followers of Christ united with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted and the
church lost her purity and power. There were some, however, who were not misled by these
delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the Author of truth and worshiped God
alone.

There have ever been two
classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the
Saviour's life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and to conform to the Pattern,
the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors. Even in her
best estate the church was not composed wholly of the true, pure, and sincere. Our Saviour
taught that those who willfully indulge in sin are not to be received into the church; yet
He connected with Himself men who were faulty in character, and granted them the benefits
of His teachings and example, that they might have an opportunity to see and correct their
errors.

But there is no union between
the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their
followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from
paganism, they entered upon a path which led farther and farther from the truth. Satan
exulted that he had succeeded in deceiving so large a number of the followers of Christ.
He then brought his power to bear more fully upon them, and inspired them to persecute

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those who remained true to God. None could so well understand how to oppose the true
Christian faith as could those who had once been its defenders; and these apostate
Christians, uniting with their half-pagan companions, directed their warfare against the
most essential features of the doctrines of Christ.

It required a desperate
struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the deceptions and
abominations which were disguised in sacerdotal garments and introduced into the church.
The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith. The doctrine of religious freedom was
termed heresy, and its upholders were hated and proscribed.

Withdrawal
of the Faithful

After a long and severe
conflict the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she
still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an
absolute necessity if they would obey the Word of God. They dared not tolerate errors
fatal to their own souls and set an example which would imperil the faith of their
children and children's children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any
concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too
dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the
compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. Well
would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast
souls were revived in the hearts of God's professed people.

The apostle Paul declares
that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim.
3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great

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degree to slumber? The only
reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard, and therefore awakens no
opposition. The religion current in our day is not of the pure and holy character which
marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of
the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word of God are so
indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that
Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith
and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived and the fires
of persecution will be rekindled.